Camellia plant named ‘Green 02-004’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Camellia sasanqua  named ‘Green 02-004’, that is characterized by its compact, dense, and rounded plant habit, its dark green foliage, its double flowers that are white in color, its very floriferous and long-lasting bloom habit, and its resistance to root rot ( Phytophora cinnamomi ) and dieback ( Glomerella cingulata ).

Botanical classification: Camellia sasanqua.

Variety denomination: ‘Green 02-004’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant, botanically known as Camellia sasanqua, ‘Green 02-004’. The new cultivar will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Green 02-004’. ‘Green 02-004’ is a new perennial shrub grown for container and landscape use.

‘Green 02-004’ was derived from an ongoing breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Fairhope, Ala., USA since 1992. The objectives of the breeding program are to develop new cultivars of Camellia sasanqua with compact plant habits, vigorous growth habits, improved disease resistance, and extended bloom periods. ‘Green 02-004’ originated as a seedling that arose from seed planted from open pollination of the Camellia sasanqua cultivar ‘Shishi Gashira’ (not patented) as the female parent in 2000 in Fairhope, Ala. The male parent is unknown. The new Camellia was selected as a single unique plant in Fall of 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventor in 2004 in Fairhope, Ala. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Camellia. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Green 02-004’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Camellia.

-   -   1. ‘Green 02-004’ exhibits a compact, dense, and rounded plant         habit.     -   2. ‘Green 02-004’ exhibits dark green foliage.     -   3. ‘Green 02-004’ exhibits double flowers that are white in         color.     -   4. ‘Green 02-004’ exhibits a very floriferous and long-lasting         bloom habit.     -   5. ‘Green 02-004’ exhibits resistance to root rot (Phytophora         cinnamomi) and dieback (Glomerella cingulata).

The female parent of ‘Green 02-004’, ‘Shishi Gashira’, differs from ‘Green 02-004’ in having flowers with fewer petals that are rose pink in color and in having flowers that are more asymetrically semi-double in form. ‘Green 02-004’ can also be compared to the Camellia cultivars ‘Green 94-010’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,454) and ‘Snow Flurry’ (not patented). Both culivars are similar to ‘Green 02-004’ in having flowers that are white in color. ‘Green 94-010’ differs from ‘Green 02-004’ in having a less compact plant habit and in having a shorter bloom season. ‘Snow Flurry’ differs from ‘Green 02-004’ in having an open plant habit, in having leaves that are lighter in color, in having a less uniform growth habit, and in having a shorter bloom season.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Camellia. The photographs were taken of a 32 month-old plant of ‘Green 02-004’, as grown outdoors in a trial garden in Fairhope, Ala.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side-view of the plant habit of ‘Green 02-004’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘Green 02-004’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the buds and a flower of ‘Green 02-004’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Camellia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of three year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown ourtdoors in three-gallon containers in Fairhope, Ala. Plants were grown under 30% shade cloth with average day temperatures between 10 to 24° C. (50 to 75° F.) and average night temperatures between −1 to 10° C. (30 to 50° F.). The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming habit.—October to January in Fairhope, Ala.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, dense and rounded.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.2 m in height and spread.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to 9.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has shown resistance to root rot             (Phytophora cinnamomi) and dieback (Glomerella cingulata).         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Time required for root initiation.—An average of 40 days.         -   Time required for root development.—About 6 months to fully             develop in a 3 inch container.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate. -   Branch description:     -   -   Stem shape.—Round.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem color.—Young; 165A, mature bark; 200C to 200D suffused             with 165A at the base becoming 165B towards the middle and             apex.         -   Stem size.—An average of 41 to 46 cm in length and 2 mm in             width.         -   Stem surface.—Young; bark-like, slightly glossy and sparsely             covered with soft pubescent hairs an average of 0.5 mm in             length and 165A in color, mature; bark-like, slightly rough             to touch.         -   Branching.—Densely branched with an average of 15 main             lateral branches and 12 to 18 secondary lateral branches per             main laterals. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded and cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate and obtuse.         -   Leaf fragrance.—None.         -   Leaf margins.—Serrate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf substance.—Young leaves; thick and rubbery, mature             leaves; thick.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; smooth, glabrous, and very             glossy, lower surface; smooth, glabrous, satiny, and             sparsely pubescent on first year growth.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 4 cm in length and 2.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—An average of 10 per branch 20 cm in length.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, inconspicuous except mid rib; upper             surface 144A in color, lower surface a blend between 143A             and 144A.         -   Leaf color.—Young and mature leaves upper surface; a blend             between 139A and 136A, young and mature leaves lower             surface; 137A.         -   Petioles.—Flattened oblique in shape, an average of 2 mm in             width and 5 mm in length, glabrous surface, 144A in color.         -   Stipules.—None. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single, rotate, double flowers.         -   Flower number.—An average of 4 to 5 per lateral stem.         -   Flower fragrance.—Slightly fragrant.         -   Flower longevity.—About one week, self cleaning.         -   Flower type.—Solitary, double.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to slightly upright, held at an             average angle of 45° from stem.         -   Flower size.—An average of 7.6 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in             depth.         -   Peduncles.—None, flowers are sessile to stem.         -   Flower buds.—Ovoid in shape, an average of 2 cm in length             and 1.5 cm in width, color; 144B, with 68A at the apex.         -   Sepals.—An average of 6, ovate to rounded in shape and             strongly cupped inward, imbricate, an average of 1.2 cm in             length and 1 cm in width, obtuse apex, truncate base, entire             margin, color; upper and lower surface 145B with base 144A             and margins 200B, mid rib; upper surface covered with silky             hairs and average of 0.5 mm in length, lower surface             glabrous and satiny.         -   Petals.—40 to 48, oblong to cordate in shape, upper and             lower surface; glabrous and dull, entire margin, cordate             apex, convexly cuneate base, an average of 3.0 cm in length             and 2.3 cm in width, color; upper and lower surfaces when             opening; 157C, upper and lower surfaces when fully open a             blend of 155C and N155D. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistil.—None observed.         -   Stamens.—Few, sparse, and petal-like with mal-formed anthers             an average of 6.5 mm in length, 160A to 160B in color, no             pollen detected.         -   Fruit and seed.—Not present. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Camellia plant named ‘Green 02-004’ as herein illustrated and described. 